A fresh debate over ethnic representation in Nigeria’s government has resurfaced as political discussions ahead of the 2027 elections increasingly focus on the records of President Bola Tinubu and his predecessor, Muhammadu Buhari.
Some critics have accused the Tinubu administration of favouring particular regions or ethnic groups in federal appointments, while supporters of the President have rejected such claims and pointed to appointments involving people from different parts of the country.
The argument has also produced a familiar response from some Nigerians: that similar concerns were raised during Buhari’s administration and should therefore not be presented as something that began under Tinubu.
There is evidence that Buhari’s appointments were also the subject of significant controversy over regional representation.
A 2017 analysis by BusinessDay found that 81 of 100 appointments examined at the time were held by Northerners. The report noted that the pattern attracted criticism over compliance with Nigeria’s federal character principle.
However, other assessments produced different figures depending on the period and categories of appointments examined.
A Vanguard analysis published in 2019, based on high-profile political appointments between 2015 and 2018, reported that the South accounted for 52.4 per cent of the appointments examined, compared with 47.6 per cent for the North.
The different figures underline why claims about whether one administration was more regionally balanced than another need to be assessed against the specific positions, dates and methodology used.
Tinubu's administration has likewise faced questions over regional representation.
In October 2025, the Acting Chairman of the Federal Character Commission, Kayode Oladele, said available commission data showed that Northern Nigeria accounted for 56.3 per cent of 712 federal leadership positions examined, compared with 43.7 per cent for the South. The figures covered categories including ministers, federal agency chief executives and other senior positions, but excluded some categories such as presidential aides and service chiefs.
The Federal Character Commission itself says Nigeria's Constitution requires the composition of the Federal Government and its agencies to reflect the country's diversity and prevent the predominance of people from a few states or ethnic groups.
Tinubu has also continued to make appointments involving people from different regions. In July 2026, for example, the Presidency announced 26 appointments across 10 federal agencies and commissions involving appointees from states including Ekiti, Lagos, Oyo, Benue, Enugu, Edo, Kaduna, Borno, Kogi and Kwara.
Why the Comparison Matters
With the 2027 elections approaching, claims about ethnicity and political appointments are likely to become increasingly prominent.
Rather than relying solely on political arguments about whether one administration was "tribalistic" or more inclusive than another, voters can examine the actual appointment records, the positions involved, the geographical distribution and the constitutional requirements governing federal representation.
The records show that regional balance has been a recurring political issue across administrations, including both Buhari and Tinubu.
As election season intensifies, verifiable records will remain important in separating documented facts from political claims.